<p>Hi. I'm applying as a 2nd year transfer and am a little confused....I saw people writing about having Letters of Recommendations in one of the acceptance threads, yet I didn't see that as a requirement (or even suggestion) anywhere on UT's website...is it advised to submit a LOR? Does everyone do it, basically? I just spent a year out of school, so hopefully I could use a work/personal letter instead of an academic one.
Perhaps I should call the admissions office, too.</p>
<p>Also, are most of you submitting the option essay (Topic B) about your circumstances/personality?</p>
<p>I'm also OOS, so I'm afraid I probably need to be extra competitive...? :-/ </p>
<p>Thanks to anyone who can enlighten me! It's a whole nother deal when you don't have school counselor to help with everything.</p>
<p>Charlotte</p>
<p>LORs aren’t required, but submit them if you can get them. I submitted 4 - 1 from a professor, 2 from work (I’m a non-trad student who had been working full-time and am much older than most of the student body) and 1 from a colleague that has worked with my on community and political events who could speak to my activism.</p>
<p>I submitted my resume (not required at the time), the SOP and the personal essay. The guidance I was given was to only use the optional essay if there were additional circumstances I wanted considered in my application that weren’t a part of my other essays or reflected on my resume. My SOP was about my fairly unorthodox journey from HS to my career and back to college, with all my slips and a-ha moments along the way aiding my maturity and growth, and augmenting my dedication to completing my degree. My personal essay was about my daughter and the profound effect becoming a mother has had on my life, with special note regarding how it has impacted my educational and professional motivation.</p>